Within the latest instance of Elon Musk’s identification (opens in new tab) being abused in cryptocurrency scams, a risk actor is concentrating on the eccentric billionaire’s latest Twitter followers, safety consultants have warned.

As reported by BleepingComputer, a scammer has created a anonymous Twitter account, and positioned the corporate emblem for the profile image, to create a false sense of legitimacy. They then began monitoring Elon Musk’s Twitter account for brand spanking new followers, and including them to a listing known as “Deal of the 12 months”.

Opening the checklist (which is public and visual to all) reveals the victims a pretend Elon Musk tweet during which he invitations his new followers to a cryptocurrency giveaway.

Faux giveaway

“I made a decision to randomly select 1,000 new followers who can take part to the largest crypto giveaway,” the tweet says, and if nothing else, with the apparent grammar errors ought to be sufficient of a purple flag. 

The tweet additionally shares a hyperlink – freedomgiveaway.web, the place victims must go and full a brief quiz as a way to take part within the “giveaway”. The quiz is usually public data, however it doesn’t actually matter in case you reply appropriately, or not. 

As quickly as you’re completed, the location will ask you on your cryptocurrency deal with, and promise to ship 5,000 BTC to the fortunate winners (roughly $84 million at press time). However earlier than they are often credited with the flowery crypto, they have to first deposit a small quantity into “Elon’s” deal with – anyplace between 0.02 and 1 BTC.

The web site additionally lists loads of pretend opinions praising the marketing campaign, as a way to make it extra plausible and to attempt to trick as many gullible traders as doable. 

The deal with the victims ought to deposit cash into might be discovered on this hyperlink (opens in new tab), and fortunately sufficient, it might appear Elon Musk’s followers aren’t that naive – the pockets is empty and has to this point seen zero interactions. Let’s hope it stays that method.

• These are the perfect endpoint safety (opens in new tab) instruments round

Through: BleepingComputer (opens in new tab)